Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

"What the fuck Rukia?" Ichigo yelled in his phone the moment he got out of the Administration Building. "You almost got me kicked out of the exam!"

"Ichigo," her voice was grave. That should have been the first thing that tipped him off. Unfortunately, after exams Ichigo's brain was a little fried.

"This had better be frickin' impor—"

"Tatsuki's pregnant." Her cold voice seemed to resonate in Ichigo's head.

Ichigo stopped in his tracks, making a younger undergrad bump into him unexpectedly. He could hear her apologizing profusely behind him picking up the Psychology book he'd just dropped.

"What?" Ichigo gasped out.

Rukia sighed, and Ichigo could tell she'd had a hell of a day. Him getting pissed off at her probably didn't help things either. He could hear rustling on the other end of the phone as she made herself comfortable on his—no her—bed.

"She—"

"How far along is she?" Ichigo's doctor side was coming out. Despite his initial reaction, Isshin had hammered anything medical related into Ichigo's head. It was either that or suffer through constant bruising whenever his back was turned.

"Isshin said she was, uh," Rukia shifted again, reminding Ichigo that she got really uncomfortable when it came to mortal bodies. "…four months…I think…"

"Shit." Ichigo sighed. "I'll clean up over here and get there as soon as possible." His voice was solid, sure, and firm, something that Rukia found she didn't know she'd needed until she heard it.

"Call me when you get on the plane okay." Ichigo pinched the bridge of his nose, trying not to feel like a total shithead for attacking Rukia earlier.

"Okay, but only if you go down to the kitchen in the next five minutes and get something to eat." Rukia blushed when her stomach chose that moment to grumble loudly at the suggestion.

"Maybe that's a good idea."

Ichigo chuckled, the warm sound bringing out a small smile from her normally composed face.

"Be safe." He murmered, grabbing his textbook from the now irritated undergrad with a grateful nod.

"I'm always safe, Ichigo." She made herself sound irritated, but Ichigo knew that this little ritual of theirs brought a little bit of more comfort to their long distance "relationship."

In the next hour, all Ichigo did was focus on finishing his final Biology project and pack. Thankfully he found cheap(ish) tickets for a flight to Tokyo tomorrow. He could take a train to Karakura, it might take a little longer than another plane trip, but he had a feeling that once he got back there wouldn't be a spare moment left for anything except the newly formed drama.

Rukia sighed and put her phone down in her lap. She could feel the exhaustion weighing down on her limbs as she tried to force herself off the bed. She could almost hear Ichigo scolding her for falling asleep and not getting anything to eat, despite the fact that she'd forsaken the last two meals. It was hard to eat when your friends were sobbing their eyes out and making changes to their lives that she'd never ever thought he would make.

After Renji had come out and told her that he'd been seeing Tatsuki since Ichigo had left for college, Rukia ended up asking him the question that solidified his resolve. Something that Rukia had a feeling she would regret asking for the rest of her life.

"Do you love her?" Rukia looked earnestly at the downcast face in front of her. Renji had been yanking at his hair when he told her the story, the long crimson strands hung in front of his face making him look even more scruffy and confused then when he came in.

He looked up at her at the statement, his eyes, previously confused and wild, looked resolved, calm.

"Yes," his voice was deep, and coarse but solid. Sure.

"Okay well," she sat back against the wall running a hand through her hair. "I guess that—"

"I know what I need to do, Rukia."

She looked at him strangely. "And what the fuck would that be."

Renji flinched a little at her harsh tone. He sort of expected it, after all Rukia had never been accused of reading minds. Except when it came to Ichigo, but he was a special case.

"I'm going to get myself instated as a permanent resident of Karakura. I need to be here for her and the baby."

Rukia froze. "You're giving up your rank? Your life's work?"

Renji sort of shrugged, obviously not having thought out the idea that fully.

"If I need to. It's my fault after all. It's my job to fix it."

"It takes two to tango Renji." Rukia grinned inwardly, proud that she'd successfully used one of the modern day terms Ichigo had taught her. It suck that she had to use it now though.

"I'm not leaving her to do this alone."

Rukia sighed sadly. She knew that tone, that was the tone Ichigo took on whenever he was determined to do something. Nothing in the world could stop Renji now.

Unless…

"Renji," she snapped him out of his planning. She wouldn't let this happen, not after all the crap Soul Society had gone through.

"You," she pointed an accusing finger at him, "are not gonna do anything yet."

Renji's gaze darkened, and Rukia knew that almost nothing she said at this point would matter. Hopefully though, she'd get through to him.

"At least not until Ichigo gets back here."

Okay, so I finally got off my fat behind and got a decent chapter out to you guys. I can't guarantee that the next chapter will come out fast though, I do have other priorities.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and if you have time (and the inclination) review please!

Much love,

ETERNALEATER.